Chemical fire-engine



(No Model.)

LA. DUGGAN.

GHBMIGAL PIRE ENGINE. No. 257,479. B, Patented May 9,1882.

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JOHN A. DUGGAN, OF QUINUY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHEMICAL FIRE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,479, dated May 9, 1882.

` Application filed October 6, 1881. (Xo model.)

To all whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DUGGAN, of Quincy, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImproveinentsin Chemical Fire- Engines, of which the following is a specification. v

Myinvention relates to those chemical tireengines which have two tanks or chambers connecting with a common discharge-pipe; and the said invention principally consists chieiiy in providing the discharge-pipe with a supply-tube extending laterally on one or both sides ofsaid dischargepipe, and constructing and arranging the same with reference to the oiitlet-pipes of the two tanks so that by rocking the discharge-pipe the said supply-tube vmay be thrown into connection with the outlet-pipe of one of the tanks,the connection between the said supply-tube andthe outlet-pipe ofthe othertankbeingterminated by the same motion. Said invention also consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents avertical secti'on through the parts of a chemical nre-extinguisher embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 representsavertical section through the parts of a chemical ire-extinguisher embodying my invention in another form, and Fig. o represents an enlarged detail view of the discharge-pipe and its supporting-standard.

The same letters indicate the same parts in all the figures, but as certain additional parts are used in the form shown in Fig. 2 it has been found necessary to use additional letters.

A' designates a bed-plate, on which are erected two hollow standards, A A,and an in termediate solid standard, G. The two former standards receive the outlet-pipes a a' of the two tanks containing the fire-extinguishing iiuid; and on their tops are attached supplemental pipes or castings B B', which have horizontal passages that communicate at their inner ends with the said outlet-pipes a a', and have their outer ends toward the top of standard G. On the top of this standard is pipe C, extending horizontally at right angles to the passages in said castings. Each of said castings has. a valve, H, operated by a screw, whereby the dow of liquid may be cut off at will.

All the aforesaid parts are common to both forms of my invention,as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. In each case, also, the pipe C serves as the common discharge-pipe for the two tanks, and it is liournaled or otherwise attached to standard G in such manner as to allow of its being turned on its axis. lt is also provided with a laterally-extending tube, E, which may either consist of a single arm and passage, c, as shown in` Fig. 1, or two arms and their passages, c e', as shown in Fig. 2.

When one tank is exhausted of liquid it is of course desirable to open connection with the other one and at the same time prevent the inflow of air from that which has been eniptied. Vhen the form of my improvement shown in Fig. l is used I effect these results by turning discharge-pipe C on its axis sufticiently to throw tube E from one side of said axis to the other, thus removing it from pipe or casting B', and causing it to open communication with the passage in pipe or casting B, or vice versa. The valve H ofthe abandoned casting is then closed, and that ofthe other'is opened. Of course the tank whence the liquid iiows through pipe a and casting B 1s supplied with tire-extinguishing liquid, while the saine is flowing out of the other tank through pipe a and castingB. Thusa continuous flow of fire-extinguishing fluid is kept up. The same rocking movement which turns the tube E away from one casting throws it into contact with the other. The said tube E is slightly enlarged at its outer end,f, and the face of said enlargement is curved to fit the correspondingly-curved faces of enlargements d d' on the inner ends of castings B B' In the form of my improvement shown 1n Fig. l the tube E is still the supply-tube for the common discharge-pipe C, and, as before, by the rocking of said tube-on its axis in one direction or the other is made to open connection with the passage in casting B', while it severs connection with that iii casting B, and vice versa. Amucli slighter degree ofmotioii, however, sufices, since the tube E consists, as shown in Fig. 2, of two arms, each being substantially a counterpart of the tube E, (shown in Fig. 1,) and extending in a right line, so that their passages c c form one continuous channel extending at all times from'casting B V to casting B', directly through discharge-pipe srs IOO

U, with which it has free connection. In this form the tube C is a little above the level ot the passages in castings B B'. The enlargements d d" of these castings are much greater than in Fig. 1, and have guideways D D' formed therein, terminated at each end by a stop-block forming part of said casting.

The lower stop-block is marked d2 in each case, and serves the same function of limiting the downward motion of tube E as is subserved'by a stop, d2, shown in Fig. l as formed on the inner face of each standard A.

In the guideways D' the enlarged ends ff' of tube E freely move on their curvilinear path, but they cannot pass beyond the stopblocks that close the end of the same. They are provided with downwardly-extending lips F F', which operate to close the passage in each casting B or B' as the other is opened. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the passage e' is in connection with the passage through casting B', while the `depending lip F closes the month of the passage through casting B, and the outer end of passage e is against the solid back ot' enlargement d. Byroeking tube E and discharge-pipe C from left to right the' above-described position of the parts will be reversed and communication opened with the passage in casting B, while the lip F' closes the outer end of the passage in casting B'. This construction has some advantages over that shown in Fig. 1, as it more eft'eetually prevents escape of gas, and requires less effort in making and severing connection between thepipes. Thebroadprincipleis,however,ob viously the same in both cases.

Having .thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the outlet-pipes a, a

and the pipes or castings B B', the dischangepipe C, provided with a lateral supply-tube, E, and adapted to be turned on its axis, so as to put said tube E into communication with one of saidpipes or castings B or B', and out of communication with the other, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with hollow standards A A and solid standards G, the outlet-pipes a a', extending up through said standards, the pipes or castings B B', secured to the tops of said standards and communicating with pipes a a', the discharge-pipe C, movable on its axis, and the supply-tube E, which may be thrown into connection with the passage in either easting by the same motion which throws it out ot connection with the passage in the other casting.

3. In combination with supply-pipes,.an aX- ially-movable discharge-pipe, C, a supply-tube, E, connected thereto, lips F F', attached to the ends ot' said tube E, pipes or castings B B', and guideways I) D', whereby the rocking ot' tube E in either direction cuts oftl the supply from one pipe or casting B or B' and admits a supplyY through the other, substantially as set forth.

JOI-IN A. DUGGAN.

Witnesses: GHAs. H. DREW,

ROLAND C. LINCOLN. 

